Swansea City Summer Catch-up

I'm back with a brief recap of Swansea City's summer so far!

After the Wembley hangovers settled, we said our amicable goodbyes to the likes of Cedric van der Gun and Albert Serran, as well as our “I-honestly-forgot-you-were-playing-for-the-Swans” farewells to Kerry Morgan and Jamie Grimes early in June. Shortly after went Darren Pratley, which was no surprise after the on/off season he'd had, followed by the shocking move of Dorus De Vries to Wolves (read my full thoughts on his departure here).

With Fabio Borini having already left for Italy, Swans fans were delighted to learn that a capable, goal-hungry striker was on his way to South Wales: Danny Graham. Luke Moore and Craig Beattie might have adequately fulfilled their roles last season and have impressed in the pre-season friendlies (though playing against the likes of Port Talbot and Afan Lido, can you expect anything less?!), but the club needed to aim higher than the combined seven goals those two brought last season. The arrival of Graham took the “striker needed” advert out of the Liberty Stadium window for a while, though another one or two would be ideal before mid-August.

With one purchase secured, the club were able to look at strengthening other vital areas, with no position more needy of a fresh face than the goalkeeper. A number of names were thrown around but, so far, only Jose Moreira has fallen into the “for keeps” bag. Moreira helped Benfica win the Portuguese League Cup last season and will no doubt prove an asset for the Swans who are struggling in that area – Ma Kalambay is not up to Premier League standard, the same going for David Cornell. It seems another keeper is in Brendan Rodgers' cross-hairs, with a loan bid going in for David Stockdale and an unconfirmed bid for Nottingham Forest's number one, Lee Camp. Another keeper would be desirable.

Looking at the defence, Neil Taylor signing a new four-year deal is good news, though the celebration was blemished after his alleged threats to sue the club after they made his Newcastle move difficult, which has certainly lost him some support (his agent seems to be the main cause of this fiasco, though Taylor must carry some of the blame). He'll have to ensure a great season in the Premier League to convert those disgruntled fans back to full support.

Alan Tate and Garry Monk are staying put, though may see themselves playing secondary roles as Ashley Williams and, new loan signing, Steven Caulker look likely to start in the centre next season, though I'm sure both Tate and Monk will get plenty of game time as the season goes on. Garry Monk signed a new three-year deal, which will no doubt see him end his career with the Swans.

Midfield wasn't a burning issue at the start of the summer with Gower, Dobbie, Allen, Britton, Orlandi and a newly fit(ish) Bodde available, though Senna and Gudjohnsen both stole headlines after Swansea were linked with them. Now they aren't coming, I can get off the fence and say it probably wouldn't have been the best move for the Swans. Yes it was refreshing to see Swansea linked with such high quality players who ooze experience, but high wages and an already large midfield roster would mean someone would suffer.

Let's not forget Ryan Harley, who signed back in January this year. He'll be one to watch, though not holding my breath for immediate wonders – bypassing the Championship and starting in the Premier League with a new team after playing in League One last season may prove a little too much straight off for Harley.

Out wide Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair will be relied on for their pace and skill, though another winger is desperately needed to provide cover for injuries. In an idea world, Swansea would get a winger who is capable of pushing Dyer and Sinclair onto the bench, but this isn't an ideal world so a cover winger would suffice. Marvin Emnes has been consistently mentioned and, at the right price, would be great forward/wing cover, though Middlesbrough won't want to see him go. I know Luke Moore can play out wide, but it's not a mouthwatering prospect is it?

Were Swansea to play their first Premier League game of the season tomorrow, things may look like this:

Moreira
Rangel Caulker Williams Taylor
Sinclair Britton Dobbie Allen Dyer,
Pintado

Just joking with the Pintado bit; but substitute Pintado for Graham and it's not a bad looking team, with a nice mix of youth, speed and experience. No doubt Swansea will be linked with a few more possibilities between now and then (when I started writing this blog they were dead certs to sign Mariano Pavone, though as I go to publish it the move is definitely not happening – I can't keep up!)

Staying in the Premier League will be no easy task, but with a little more strengthening it's not impossible. Another three weeks and we'll be very close to the first game against Man City, where the hard work really starts.

NEW PODCAST! - "It wouldn't happen in Swansea..." Episode 5

After his lazy Egyptian holiday, Matt rejoins Chris in the studio to discuss Swansea City transfer news.

Just click play on the big orange button below and enjoy!

In this episode:

- Chris and Matt discuss the ins and outs of the transfer window
- An interview with a Reading fan, who gives his thoughts on the final and Swansea in the Premier League
- A new feature: "Devil's Advocate", where Chris and Matt argue their cases
- All your Twitter questions answered

Unfortunately "Challenge Matt" does not feature due to recording problems (despite me saying it will in the intro!) - sorry, but thanks for your questions, which we shall use next time!

All feedback welcome, and, to decide who should win "Devil's Advocate" just add a comment below. Enjoy!

It wouldn't happen in Swansea - Podcast - Episode 5 by ForzaSwansea

Swans on film! - Part Two

Back in January you may recall I broke the text-base blog mould (what a pioneer I truly am!) and brought you five of my favourite Swansea City themed videos from YouTube.

So due to popular demand (and because I am lacking blogging creativity over the post-season), here are another five videos worth checking out if you are a Jack. You'll see goals, passion, song and... queues. Enjoy!

(NB: I did not film, edit or upload any of these videos, neither do I own any of the music - no copyright infringement intended)


1) Swansea City at Wembley - Swansea Sound Commentary
Most of you will have been at Wembley or at least will have watched the final on Sky Sports, therefore missing Anthony O'Connell's dramatic commentary for Swansea Sound. He may not be the best out there, but it's worth hearing a passionate, Swansea-biased commentator's take on the match, instead of some stuffy suit who doesn't really care. All set to pictures from the final.



(Uploaded by Swaansea)


2) The Vetch Field 2011
This was created by a good friend of mine and probably the most passionate Swans fan around. So passionate that he snuck into the derelict Vetch early one morning, just before the demolition work began, and took some very unique photos which will surely stir some memories. Very poignant.

(Make sure to cancel the annoying advert at 0:10)



(Uploaded by RichardCopp)


3) Top 5 Goals - 2010/11 Season
It's a shame this video doesn't include more goals as there were some real stunners throughout last season, though five of the best are definitely included here, from the likes of Rangel, Beattie and Sinclair.



(Uploaded by SwansHighlights23)


4) The queue for the new Swansea City shirt
No high production values here, but a perfect reminder of all the queuing that took place at the Liberty Stadium this spring! Wembley tickets, season tickets and the new shirt. The people of Swansea do love a good ol' fashioned stand in the rain!



(Uploaded by MrLow3sy)


5) Swansea Song at Wembley
I rarely show emotion, though seem to recall a little tear in my eye as I sung this song, along with 40,000 other Swansea folk, after the match. Great song, great occasion to sing it. Now, dry your eyes mate...

(Skip to about 0:16 into the video!)



(Uploaded by PCSCymru)

If you have a video recommendation that you think may be worthy of inclusion for the next video-based blog, leave a comment below!

Making sense of Jack Army Membership

It doesn't take much to confuse me, and the Jack Army Membership scheme was no exception. At first I wasn't sure how it differed from other club schemes like the 1912 Foundation and the Swans Supporters Trust, though after asking questions and actually taking the time to read the website, I now know what it will mean to be a member of the (regulated) Jack Army, and you will too after reading this blog ... maybe.

If you aren't already aware, the Jack Army Membership is a new scheme aimed at allowing supporters who become members the chance to have priority when buying home and away tickets next season.

There is one tier of membership, at different prices: £10 for season ticket holders, Vice Presidents and Premier Club members and £25 for non-season ticket holders (make sure to add the, these days, obligatory £1.50 “admin fee”, for the £1.50's worth of “admin” that will no doubt take place).

The benefits of being part of the scheme are obvious for those who were not able to obtain a season ticket, for whatever reason: priority. Come the Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea games to name a few, you will need all the help you can to get a ticket. Though the club do state on the website that becoming a member of the Jack Army is no guarantee of tickets, it will give you that edge over those who don't want to pay the £26.50 now. Plus it will, in theory, give you priority on away tickets which will be in just as big a demand (if not more due to limited numbers) as home tickets next season.

So what are the benefits of paying £11.50 if you're already a season ticket holder? Well you may have a plastic friend who wants you to get him/her a ticket, but I can't really see you getting Jack Army Membership for that reason! No, it seems away tickets are the main reason a season ticket holder would become a member. That and cup matches.

On the topic of cup matches, thankfully next season we won't be too upset when we don't pull a “big name” out of the hat for the FA Cup / Carling Cup as we'll be playing them every week! One of the biggest names we would all love to pull out is Cardiff, as this is one classic derby match that everyone will miss next season. If Swansea do face Cardiff next season it'll be in a cup match. A good enough reason alone to join the Jack Army scheme, season-ticket holder or not.

To me, despite the initial confusion, the membership scheme seems adequate for a club that probably didn't expect ticket demand to be this high for a few years yet.

As many were crying out for, a loyalty scheme was probably a better way of dealing with the demand; that way those who have actively supported the Swans for years (buying their fair share of home and away tickets) will rightly have priority. However, this really needed to be implemented a few years ago for it to mean anything. The club have announced plans for a loyalty scheme to come into force at some point in the future, but until then this is the next best thing.

The only problem is that by this way of doing things, a truly loyal Swansea City supporter now has the same priority as somebody just joining to get tickets “for Man Utd and the big games and stuff” (not sure who I'm quoting there, though I reckon it's been said by plenty in the past few months).

Ultimately, if you have the money, become a member. Even if you don't plan to go to many games (if you live too far away, etc), this is a good enough reminder why:

When the loyalty scheme comes into force the priority could be as follows:

Those with the most loyalty points, THEN season-ticket holders (with Jack Army Membership), THEN non-season ticket holders (with Jack Army Membership), THEN season ticket holders (without Jack Army Membership) AND THEN, finally, general sale.

There's more chance of Gorka Pintado scoring a hat-trick against Man City in the opening game than you have of getting a general sale ticket!

Loyalty: no longer playing for the badge

Dorus De Vries has left Swansea City.

For me this is a bigger shame than Darren Pratley and (possibly) Neil Taylor leaving, as it seems to have cropped up from nowhere. I know he was out of contract, but I must have just assumed he'd sign another one. Football lesson #1: Never assume anyone will be playing for your team next season.

I think I'm more confused than anything.

It might be more understandable had Swansea failed to achieve promotion last season, or were in a Cardiff-type state (complete disarray), but that's not the case. Swansea were promoted, have been gifted £90million, have a great team and management in place and have some of the best supporters in the land. Dorus will know this.

Maybe his departure was a lifestyle reason? Unlikely though; I've been to Wolverhampton and, despite what the Wolverhampton tourist board may claim, it has no charm or beauty. Well, none compared to that of Swansea. So we can rule out “change of scenery”.

Could it be the manager? I've never been managed by him personally, but Brendan Rodgers strikes me as an excellent boss, one who you'd struggle to dislike and one who let's the players play their own way. I can't see the appeal of Mick McCarthy over the Kilimanjaro conqueror, so it can't be a reason.

Maybe we don't have to look further than De Vries himself who said (speaking to Wolves club website): "Wolves are a club with all the fundamentals in place to grow and expectations are higher than at Swansea at this moment in time.”

This, again, is odd. I think expectations are very high in Swansea. Higher than they must be at Wolves. A team still flying on the promotion high (I know the crash will come soon enough) against a team who avoided relegation by a point on the final day. I may be a little disillusioned, but I predicted (before this news came to light) that Swansea would probably finish on par, if not higher than, Wolves. Maybe De Vries knows something I don't?

After discussing all these points, it should be clear by now that money is the reason De Vries left Swansea. (I would like to point out that while I am naturally focussing my attention on the Dutchman, it is generally the same story for Darren Pratley and any others that choose to leave now).

In football, money overtook loyalty years ago. Gone are the days where a player will spend his entire career with one club (bar a few exceptions – Giggs, Del Piero, Scholes) and it's such a shame for the sport.

As we all know, the joy of having 20,000 fans chanting your name is nothing compared to the sheer bliss of that extra few grand a week. Forget the kids who save up pocket money for a new kit and have your name sewn onto their shirts, only for you to leave the next week. Forget the fans in stands similar to the Tesco Stand all over the country who will now have to co-ordinate another chant for their star keeper.

Player loyalty (the lack of it) is almost enough to put you off football.

Why can't more players be like Alan Tate? Can anyone remember Alan Tate holding up his Swansea shirt for the camera's when he signed? No, because it was so long ago! One of those rare players that will probably stay with the club for his entire career (and it's not just because no-one else wants him).

So the departure of De Vries leaves a big space to fill. Swansea are currently being linked with Poland international Grzegorz Sandomierski (a lovely name for the commentators to get wrong). However, the 21-year old has impressed a number of top clubs, including Man City, Juventus and Chelsea, so don't hold your breath on this one.

I felt Swansea already needed another keeper before this happened; as a back up in case De Vries got injured. I don't feel Yves MaKalambay is Premier League material yet, though worth hanging on to as a third keeper.

Now Rodgers has another mountain to climb in getting two good quality goalkeepers into the squad; at least one of them with enough experience to face the likes of Rooney, Tevez and Drogba next season.

I guess Alan Tate could take the gloves again?

Swansea City: All Change!

One thing is certain: the Swansea squad we enjoyed watching last season will be considerably different in August. After a quiet blogging week (apart from the podcast), here is my little catch up on who's in and out, and what still needs strengthening.

Let's face it; with Borini gone, Swansea have limited quality striker options. I guess you could class Dobbie as a good striker, but he does too well in the attacking midfield role to change back now. This leaves Beattie, Pintado (he's back!) and Moore and none of these can confidently do the job. Rodgers clearly understood that a new face up front was needed, with the capture of Danny Graham for £3.5million last week (my mini blog on him is here). Being the top scorer in the Championship with Watford last season is proof that he can score goals when needed, and I am sure he will make a great addition to the team.

There are refreshed rumours of Marvin Emnes possibly coming back. This seems a decent move, as Emnes spent time with Swansea last season (scoring the goal against Cardiff... did you need reminding?). He knows how Swansea want to play and would fit in well I'm sure. Middlesbrough won't be keen to let their front man go, but it's definitely worth a move for him.

In midfield, Darren Pratley has left the club (with an alleged eye for Bolton). It seemed inevitable that he'd go after the season he had with the Swans. The whole “refusing to sign a new contract” situation was one massive hint that his future lied elsewhere; a case that saw him booed by some Swans fans earlier in the season. I always liked Pratley, with his keen eye for goal and solidity on the field (and impact from the bench in the later stages of the season). Good luck to him, but with good depth in the midfield already, he won't be too much of a loss.

Brendan Rodgers has already been looking to fill Pratley's position with Marcos Senna. Even if nothing comes from the talks, it's great for club spirits to be linked with a player of this quality. Leon Britton and Marcos Senna in the centre – a wonderful (if slightly unbelievable) pairing. The Spanish Player of the Year 2008 and Euro 2008 winner (… it seems 2008 was a good year for Senna) would be a big star signing for the Swans; one which would really cement the fact that Swansea have made it to the big league.

However, at 35 (when new season starts), his age is a big factor. Ultimately Brendan Rodgers will be signing Senna with experience in mind. The La Liga veteran has played with Corinthians and, of course, Villareal and had 28 caps for Spain. He may be a little too old to feature as a first team player week-in, week-out, but his big game ability is what he will be used for, on and off the field.

Another midfield idea going around is Eidur Gudjohnsen. The attacking-midfielder is a free agent, though has played with Barcelona, Chelsea and Tottenham in the past and would be another massive experience signing. At 32 he, like Senna, would be useful for his big game experience. I'm not sure if having both Senna and Gudjohnsen would be ideal as the wages would be massive and they probably wouldn't both be needed. Still, I'd rather both than none.

Ryan Harley has been with Swansea since January, though remained with his old club, Exeter, on loan until now. I haven't seen much of Harley, though I understand he is a great attacking player with a keen eye for goal. Stepping up from League One to the Premier League will be a massive change in pace and quality though, so we will have to wait to see how effective he really is on the big stage.

Midfield seems close to sorted now, with the likes of Harley, Britton, Dobbie, Allen and, quite possibly, Senna and Gudjohnsen all likely to play first team football next season.

The wings need strengthening. With one injury to Sinclair or Dyer, Swansea's wide game is effectively buggered. With Van der Gun gone, the Swans are relatively short on wingers, which is worrying as their game relies heavily on the wings. Tom Butler is one option, with Luke Moore another. I'd personally dislike seeing either of these warming up next season, so a winger should be the next big thing on Rodger's list.

The biggest area Swansea need to look at is defence. Monk and Tate did wonders last season, though fresh legs and a little speed at the back is now essential against some of the best forwards in the world. With Ashley Williams staying put for now, obtaining another centre back and possibly a left back is more essential than finding a winger and striker. If Taylor stays the left-back is less crucial, but depth is needed with only a handful of quality defenders to actually choose from.

De Vries is already Premier League quality and will easily retain his starting spot next season, after a spectacular 2010/11 season, but MaKalambay is not up to the high standard required in the top tier. A new replacement keeper is needed (not Cornell), with MaKalambay staying as a third keeper possibly.

There is plenty more to talk about as the transfer window remains open. Watch this space!

NEW PODCAST! - "It wouldn't happen in Swansea..." Episode 4

Just click the big orange button below to play this week's podcast!

NOTE: The original intro is missing as it was never saved, so has been replaced with a short music clip.

In this week's ultra-packed episode, presented by Chris Carra and Matt Barroccu:

- Chris and Matt's Wembley experiences
- "Plastic" fans and the season ticket fiasco
- Who should stay and who should go from the current squad
- Rants from Matt about anti-Welsh journalists
- Chris recaps on the "Smudge1962" incident
- and, of course, 'Challenge Matt'

Enjoy!

It wouldn't happen in Swansea - Podcast - Episode 4 by ForzaSwansea